Customer Reviews (80)

Maria Priniotaki • 2025-08-02T20:24:44.488Z

A nice app for writing down things. The free version works just fine for a daily basic need of remembering things. Recommended!

Linze Fowler • 2025-08-01T19:15:22.152Z

free? haha ...... okay

Allison Dawson • 2025-07-30T23:01:26.784Z

I love it!! but if there was a monthly option for pro and not yearly that would be great!!!! 😭

Summary of Key Insights

The Waffle: Shared Journal app has a mixed reception. While many users appreciate the concept of shared journaling and find it helpful for strengthening relationships, a significant number of users report experiencing technical issues, particularly with login problems, bugs, and subscription issues. The app's pricing model is also a point of contention, with some users finding it too expensive and lacking a free version with sufficient features. The overall sentiment is moderately positive, but the negative reviews highlight serious usability and reliability concerns.

  • Strengths: Helpful for relationship building, user-friendly interface (when working), helpful journal prompts.
  • Weaknesses: Frequent login issues, bugs, expensive subscription model, limited offline functionality, and concerns about data privacy.

Quantitative Metrics:

  • Overall Rating (Calculated from provided data): Approximately 3.16 stars (weighted average).
  • Score Distribution:
    • 5-star: 30%
    • 4-star: 17.5%
    • 3-star: 13.75%
    • 2-star: 10%
    • 1-star: 28.75%

Data & Methodology Overview

  • Data Sample Size: 80 reviews
  • Time Frame: Reviews appear to be recent, spanning from August 2024 to November 2024 (based on dates mentioned within the reviews).
  • Analysis Methods: Sentiment analysis (qualitative assessment of positive, negative, and neutral feedback), keyword extraction (identifying frequently mentioned terms and topics), and thematic analysis (grouping related issues and feature requests).

Key User Pain Points

  • Login Issues: Many users report being frequently logged out and struggling to log back in, even with Google sign-in. This significantly hinders the user experience.
  • Bugs and Glitches: Users describe various bugs, including issues with posting entries, uploading photos, scrolling, and the app crashing.
  • Subscription Issues: Some users report paying for subscriptions but not receiving the promised benefits, or difficulty understanding pricing plans. The high cost of the subscription is a common complaint.
  • Lack of Offline Functionality: The inability to use the app without an internet connection is a major drawback for many users.
  • Data Privacy Concerns: One user alleges that the app collects and sells user data.
  • Customer Support: Some users report a lack of response from customer support regarding issues.

Frequently Requested Features

  • Offline Functionality: The ability to write and read journal entries offline and sync them later.
  • Widget: A home screen widget to remind users to write entries.
  • PC Version: A web or desktop version of the app.
  • One-Time Purchase Option: A lifetime or permanent "Plus" status option instead of a subscription.
  • More Free Features: Including the ability to add images and access more journal cover options without a subscription.
  • Reactions/Emojis: The ability to react to other users' posts with emojis.
  • Ability to add multiple images to one entry.
  • Improved Scrolling: Fix the scrolling issues when writing longer entries.

Strengths and Positive Aspects

  • Helpful for Relationship Building: Many users find the app helpful for strengthening relationships, especially in long-distance situations.
  • User-Friendly Interface (When Working): Users generally find the interface easy to use and aesthetically pleasing when it's functioning correctly.
  • Helpful Journal Prompts: The daily journal prompts are appreciated for providing inspiration and facilitating deeper conversations.
  • Simple and Easy to Share: The app is praised for its simplicity and ease of sharing journals with others.
  • Free Version is Sufficient (for basic needs): Some users find the free version adequate for basic journaling needs.

Prioritized Action Recommendations

High Priority:

  • Fix Login Issues: Address the frequent login problems and ensure a smooth and reliable login experience.
  • Address Bugs and Glitches: Prioritize fixing the reported bugs and glitches that hinder usability, such as posting problems, scrolling issues, and app crashes.
  • Improve Subscription Clarity and Reliability: Clearly communicate pricing plans and ensure that users receive the benefits they pay for.
  • Investigate Data Privacy Concerns: Address the allegations of data selling and ensure transparency and security of user data.

Medium Priority:

  • Implement Offline Functionality: Allow users to write and read entries offline.
  • Enhance Customer Support: Improve customer support responsiveness and address user inquiries promptly.
  • Optimize App Performance: Address lagging issues and improve overall app performance.

Low Priority:

  • Develop a PC Version: Create a web or desktop version of the app.
  • Implement a Widget: Add a home screen widget for reminders.
  • Add Reactions/Emojis: Include the ability to react to entries with emojis.
  • Add more free features: Allow users to add images or have more journal cover options without subscription.

Opportunities for Startup Ideas

  • Competitor Analysis: A competitor could focus on providing a similar shared journaling experience with a stronger emphasis on offline functionality and a more transparent, potentially cheaper, pricing model.
  • Niche Specialization: An app specializing in journaling for specific relationship types (e.g., parent-child, sibling-sibling) with tailored prompts and features.
  • AI-Powered Journaling Assistant: An app that uses AI to provide more personalized journal prompts, analyze entries for emotional trends, and offer insights into relationship dynamics.
  • Privacy-Focused Journal: An app that prioritizes user privacy and data security, offering end-to-end encryption and transparent data handling practices.

Trends and Observations

  • Recurring Login Issues: The consistent mention of login problems suggests a fundamental flaw in the app's authentication system.
  • Price Sensitivity: Users are highly sensitive to the app's pricing, indicating a need for more flexible and affordable subscription options.
  • Desire for Offline Access: The frequent requests for offline functionality highlight its importance for users who want to journal on the go or in areas with limited internet connectivity.
  • Bug Reports Increase Negative Sentiment: Buggy app reports consistently lead to 1-star reviews.

Conclusion

Waffle: Shared Journal has the potential to be a valuable tool for strengthening relationships through shared journaling. However, the app suffers from significant technical issues, a problematic pricing model, and a lack of essential features like offline functionality. Addressing these issues is crucial for improving user satisfaction and achieving long-term success. Prioritizing bug fixes, improving subscription clarity, and implementing offline access are essential steps for enhancing the app's usability and value proposition. I recommend focusing on improving the core functionality and stability of the app before adding new features.

Original App Link

https://play.google.com/work/apps/details?id=ai.poppy.waffle